CALGARY — Employment continued to rise in Alberta in February keeping the province’s unemployment rate at 4.5 per cent — the second lowest in the country behind Saskatchewan’s 3.8 per cent.

“Job growth surged across the country in February defying even the most optimistic forecasts,” said Jacqueline Palladini, economist with the Conference Board of Canada.

Statistics Canada reported Friday that 4,200 new jobs were created in Alberta during the month which was up 0.2 per cent from the previous month. Year-over-year, there were 52,900 new jobs created in the province, up 2.5 per cent.

Alberta’s unemployment rate remained the same as in January.

In the Calgary census metropolitan area, the unemployment rate rose from 4.9 per cent in January to 5.0 per cent in February. On a monthly basis, the region created 2,300 new jobs, up 0.3 per cent. On an annual basis, 23,100 new jobs have been created for an increase of 3.1 per cent.

“While economic growth has slowed a bit in Alberta, it doesn’t seem to be making a big impact with the labour market just yet,” said Todd Hirsch, senior economist with ATB Financial.

He said job gains in the province were concentrated in professional services, trade, finance, insurance and real estate while jobs were shed in public administration, manufacturing and oil and gas extraction.

According to the Alberta government, the year-over-year employment increase accounted for 14.4 per cent of Canada’s employment growth over the same period.

Full-time employment increased by 8,600 and part-time employment by 1,100 in the province.

The following industries had the most employment increases in January from the previous month: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, 6,800; Business, Building and Other Support Services, 5,500; and Construction, 4,800.

Nationally, the federal agency said the unemployment rate remained at 7.0 per cent.

Across the country, employment rose by 50,700 from the previous month for a 0.3 per cent gain. Year-over-year, it was up by 1.9 per cent or 336,200 positions.

Robert Kavcic, senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, said the February employment report was strong.

He said Canadian employment has now grown by an average of more than 30,000 per month over the past seven months, with only one hiccup (January) over that period.

Sonya Gulati, senior economist with TD Economics, said February’s tally “put the Canadian job creation engine back into production mode, a welcome development.”

“Hiring intentions are also being expressed by businesses, suggesting that the job growth number will remain positive, albeit modest, in the months ahead,” she said.

While most of the positions created in February went to males, Canada’s females have scooped up 54 per cent of the new positions in the past year, gaining as many of the new full-time jobs as men and almost all of the new part-time positions, said Palladini.

Regionally, Ontario was the biggest generator of new jobs, adding 35,300, followed by British Columbia with an increase of 19,800. Quebec had the biggest drop in employment, shedding 13,100 jobs.

Economists had expected a second weak month in February given that most indicators have been pointing to modest growth and January saw an outright loss of nearly 22,000 jobs. The forecast had been for about 8,000 new jobs.

“Up until today, economic indicators had suggested that the Canadian economy was sputtering as opposed to accelerating,” said Gulati. The January employment numbers “put some of these concerns to bed. While headwinds are plentiful and downside risks numerous these should abate, enabling economic growth in Canada to pick up in the second half of this year,” she added.

The February employment data showed all of the growth was in the services side, led by a 26,000 gain in the scientific and technical services sector.

mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com

Twitter.com/MTone123

With files from Canadian Press

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